KANDAHAR, Afghanistan –
It was a historic occasion as Servicemembers, civilians and coalition partners gathered in a tent to bid farewell to one unit and welcome another.
The 7th Sustainment Brigade assumed control of the sustainment mission in Afghanistan during a transfer-of-authority ceremony with the 43rd Sustainment Brigade at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 28.
The 'Rough Rider' brigade assumed control of the mission March 22, 2010, establishing itself as the first sustainment brigade to control logistical operations in southern Afghanistan. The Brigade's six battalions was designated Task Force Rough Rider and joint Servicemembers.
"During the tenure, the 43rd Sustainment Brigade was responsible for driving nearly 12 million miles in convoys across the country, dropping over 24 million pounds of supplies, moving over 2,400 pallets, and shipping 15.5 million pounds of mail. It also partnered with eight Afghan National Security Force units and provided $1.9 million in Commander's Emergency Response Program funds to the surrounding communities of the Kandahar Province," said Col. Ed Daly, 43rd Sust. Bde. commander.
"These Soldiers have been committed to excellence every single day," said Colonel Daly. "They are warrior logisticians who live the Soldier's Creed in the harshest deployed operational environment."
As the 43rd Sust. Bde. redeployed to Fort Carson, Colo., the 7th Sust. Bde.'s 'Resolute' warriors assumed the logistics mission. The newly designated Task Force Resolute consists of four battalions and 3,000 Soldiers comprised of active-duty Army, Guard and Reserve members.
"To the U.S., [the] coalition and Afghan National Security Forces, the seventh will give nothing less than one hundred and ten percent," remarked Col. Lawrence Kominiak, 7th Sust. Bde. commander.